Inter Miami v New York Red Bulls: Line-ups, stats and preview

Inter Miami v New York Red Bulls team news

Inter Miami have drawn four of their last five matches in all competitions, but head coach Javier Mascherano believes the most decorated team in the MLS are “not doing that badly” as they prepare for their second game at their Nu Stadium home following a 2-2 draw with Austin to open the venue last Sunday.

Austin belied their position outside the Western Conference playoff places as the team with one win so far this season took the lead twice, Miami equalizing through Lionel Messi – scoring the first-ever Herons goal at the Nu Stadium – and Luis Suarez.

“I understand there is a lot of noise from outside because of the quality of players we have and the high expectations people have for our club,” said Mascherano, via the Miami Herald.

“We have played eight games and we only lost one – the opener [3-0 at LAFC]. We were eliminated from the Champions Cup and [succeeding in] that was one of our objectives, but we didn’t lose those games [two draws with Nashville].

“There are a lot of positives. I don’t see it so bad or so dark. Game by game, the team will continue to improve.”

The Red Bulls are a point behind Miami and could move level on points with Eastern Conference leaders Nashville with victory.

Head coach Michael Bradley, who faced Messi and Argentina on his way to amassing 151 USA caps, suggested Miami are “not the first team” to have “a little bit of a slower start”.

“That is normal, in a lot of ways,” said the former midfielder and USMNT captain. “We look at them and see a really good team.

“[Messi has] so much quality, skill, ease to just do anything he needs to. I know, in certain moments, how he can almost lull you to sleep and appear, at certain times, almost disinterested or like he’s taking a bit of a rest.

“All of a sudden, the switch flips and he’s on and alive and ready to take a play and turn it into a goal.

“The interesting thing with Messi, in any team he plays in, is how they use him. Are they going to use him as a false nine, where they have two wingers as a reference out wide, or are they going to use him on the right, so the dynamic of how they play tilts a little more that way?

“We’ve had a really good week and we have a good idea of Miami as a team. No matter what, we’re going to have a group who are ready, when that whistle blows, to understand what the game is and really try to push things and go after the game.”

Inter Miami v New York Red Bulls team news

Right-back Facundo Mura (ankle) and left-back Sergio Reguilon (hamstring) are doubts for Miami.

Tadeo Allende has not trained this week because of an unspecified injury, so 39-year-old Suarez could start again.

New York won 4-2 at home to Cincinnati last Sunday, having lost 6-1 at Charlotte in their previous match on March 21.

“They are completely different from last season,” said Mascherano. “They changed nine of 11 starters and changed their style of play.

“They are playing more direct, have a lot of youth, are dynamic, and their coach is young but very courageous.

“They are coming off a big win over Cincinnati. We know it is difficult to play Cincinnati and to score four goals, no less. We are facing a team in a good place who surely will come here to play.”

Inter Miami v New York Red Bulls predicted line-ups

Inter Miami starting XI: Dayne St Clair, Ian Fray, Maximiliano Falcon, Micael Silva, Noah Allen, Rodrigo De Paul, David Ayala, Tadeo Allende, Lionel Messi, Telasco Segovia, Luis Suarez

New York Red Bulls starting XI: Ethan Horvath, Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, Dylan Nealis, Robert Voloder, Matthew Dos Santos, Ronald Donkor, Gustav Berggren, Emil Forsberg, Cade Cowell, Julian Hall, Jorge Ruvalcaba

Where to watch Inter Miami v New York: TV channel, live online streams

Kick-off on Saturday is at 19:30 ET (16:30 PT / 00:30 on Sunday BST), with live coverage available through Apple TV.

In the US, a subscription costs $12.99 a month or $99.99 a year. Those prices are £8.99 a month or £89.99 a year in the UK. A seven-day free trial is available.

Inter Miami v New York Red Bulls stats

• This is the 13th MLS regular-season meeting between the teams, each winning six of the previous encounters
• There have been at least three goals in eight of their 12 showdowns and at least four goals in each of the last four
• The winners have alternated across the last four editions in Miami
• Miami have won the last three overall, most recently coming from behind to win 5-1 away in July 2025 with the help of two goals each for Telasco Segovia and Messi, an assist by the Argentina captain, a goal and assist by Jordi Alba and a Suarez assist
• Before the start of the matchday, only Dallas’ Petar Musa and Nashville’s Sam Surridge (7 each) had scored more MLS goals this season than Messi (5)
• New York have won three and lost three of their six visits to Miami, suffering defeats in the last two by an aggregate of 10-3
• Red Bulls captain Emil Forsberg’s free-kick against Cincinnati was his first goal of the MLS season and the 21st of his career in the league, putting the 34-year-old level with Lloyd Sam for the third-most goals scored by a midfielder in the club’s history
• Forsberg has two direct goal contributions in three appearances against Miami
• Three of New York’s last six goals have come after the 80th minute, with two of those during added time
• Their total of two wins, 10 points and 0.59 points per game away last season was the worst apart from Atlanta United and the LA Galaxy. Only Sporting Kansas City (12) lost more away games than New York (11)

Inter Miami v New York Red Bulls prediction

These teams have each conceded at least three more goals than any other side in the top six of the Eastern Conference and top seven of the Western Conference, making a high-scoring draw feasible.

Prediction: Inter Miami 3-3 NYRB